Insulated rail-joint.



B. G. BRMNE.

INSULATED RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILEDAPR. 14. 1914.

Patented Dec. 7', 1915.

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wN E MN wwmaowo turn s rarns Parana? one BANCROFT G. BRAINE, F NEW YOBJLN'. EEK, ASSIGNDR TO THJE MIL JUINT COMPANY, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YQRK.

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mum-mm Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. W, i915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, BANCROFT Gr. BRAINE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lnsulated Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints of the insulated type, and more particularly to the means employed for insulating the metal parts of the joint.

To this end, a general object of the invention is to simplify the construction and installation of insulated rail joints by utilizing insulating members constructed in a novel manner so as toscompel and safeguard the proper and complete assembling of the metal parts with the electrical insulation therefor.

A further object of the invention is to employ insulating members of such a character that there shall be an entire absence of separate and loose bushings or other elements that are at times omitted through carelessness by trackmen when installing the joints, thereby involving the consequence of the joint presenting an outward appearance of being complete, while the insulating properties thereof are either totally destroyed or materially decreased. These serious possibilities are entirelyeliminated by the use of the present invention, and at the same time the latter provides insulating members which by reason of their novel constructionare securely and firmly retained in proper insulating positions at all times.

With these and other objects in view which will be recognized by those familiar with this art, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and ar rangen'ient of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The features of improvement constituting. the present invention are susceptible of application in various ways and to different types of rail joints, but for illustrative purposes a practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end View of an insulated rail joint of the continuous type illustrating a combination of the improved-insulating members combined with metal chafing guards interposed between the same and the oint bolt. Fig. 2 is an end View, and Fig.

3 is a side elevation of the fiber washer plate having fixed fiber bushings to extend through the .bolt holes in the joint bars.

Fig. 4: is an end view, and F ig. 5 is a side elevation of the metal bolt strap having fixed metal bushings combining with the fiber bushings of the washer plate shown in Figs.v 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the application of the invention shown in the drawings, the numerals l-1 designate the side bars of the joint, which for purposes of illustration are of the continuous type, formed with the usual rail-supporting base sections, and having the bolt-receiving holes 3 for the reception of the usual joint bolts 4. The mass sary insulation for these joint includes base members of insulation 5 interposed between the'rail flanges and the j ointbars, and separate head members of insulation 6 placed between the joint bars and the under sides of the rail heads.

The head and base members 5 and 6 of in sulation are made of any suitable insulating material, preferably and usually of fiber, according to the present invention, the said insulating head and base members 5 and 6 provide the necessary insulation between. the rails and the side joint bars insulating washers 18 are employed which have rigidly united therewith the fixed insulating bushings 14; adapted to extend entirely through the holes in the joint bars, thus providing for the complete insulation of the bolt. in combination with these insulating bushings 1a of theinsulating washers 13, there are preferably combined the shielding metal bushings 15 arranged in side of the bushings it about the bolts, and rigidly formed or united with the metal.

while fiber bolt straps 16 which are interposed between v ferrules 15 act as chafing bar.

forms of construction may be the forma tion of the insulating Washer or strap 13 with a depending out-turned apron extension 13*. This extension as plainly shown in Fig. l of the drawings turns outward over the outer side of the joint bar and secures an effectual insulation to prevent the heads and endsof the bolts or the metal Washers from coming into electrical communication with the lower part of the joint This feature of improvement is also obviously applicable to other forms of construction.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a distinctive and practical feature of the invention is that of providing one or more of the insulating members for the joint bolts With .rigid or fixed insulating bushings constituting a permanent non-detachable and non-separable part of the insulation in order to secure the advantages and objects pointed out, While at the same time adding to the permanence and security of the insulation. It is by reason of this structural characteristic of the fast or fixed bushings that it is impossible for the bolt insulating bushings to be omitted through carelessness of trackmen When insulating the joint in track, while at the same time the rigid or fixed relation between the bushing and the supporting body or sheet of insulating material serves to maintain these elements permanently in their proper relation to the metal in the joint parts under all conditions With-- out possibility of their relative separation or displacement, and the consequent impair-- ment of the insulating properties of the joint. Therefore, it is thought that the construction and many advantages of the hereindescribed improvements will be readily apparent Without further description, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirt or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim: v

1. An insulated rail joint, including in combination With the rails, the joint bolts, and a joint bar, an insulating Washer arranged at the outside of the joint bar and having a bolt insulating bushing extending into a bolt receiving hole thereof, and a bolt strap arranged on the outer side of said Washer and having a metal chafing guard extending Within said insulating bushing.

52, An insulated rail joint, including in combination with the rails, the joint bolts and a joint bar, an insulating Washer arranged at the outer side of the joint bar and having a fixed bolt insulating bushing extending through a bolt hole in the bar, and a bolt strap arranged on the outer side of said Washer and having a fixed shielding metal bushing arranged inside of the insulating bushing.

3. An insulated rail joint including, in combination with a rail, a joint bolt, and a joint bar, a single unit of insulation consisting of a. Washer element adapted to be arranged at the outside of the joint bar and provided with a fixed. bolt insulating bushing and with an integral apron extension at its lower edge overlying the flange of the joint bar.

4:. An insulated rail joint including, in combination With a rail, :1 joint bolt, and a joint bar, a single unit of insulation. consisting of a Washer plate arranged at the outside of the bar and having a fixed bolt insulating bushing and an integral out-turned apron extension at its lower edge.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

BANGROFT G.BRA.INE.

Witnesses:

BENJN. lVoLHAUnrER, EMORY L. Gnorr. 

